Boot or shoe fastening.



PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. I

R. SNAPPER. BOOT 0R SHOE FASTENING. APPLIUATION FILED BBPT 2, 1902.

N0 MQDEL.

Aftornys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- REBECCA SNAPPER, OF SOUTH MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

BOOT OR SHOE FASTENING.

SPE FIC T formingpart of Letters Patent No. 722,638, dated March 10, 1903.

Application filed September 2, 1902. Serial No. 121,890. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, REBECCA SNAPPER, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 165 Victoria avenue, Albert Park, South Melbourne, in the county of Bourke, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Boot or Shoe Fastenings, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a quick and ready fastening for boots and shoes. In the past various devices have been used to this end; but with mine a fastening is produced in which the connection is instantly and securely made, equally as expeditiously released, and in which also there are no parts liable either to derangement or failure in operation.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 shows an elevation of a right-foot boot-front with the meeting edges of the top fastened. The straps are shown as secured to the outer meeting edge of the top and the loose end free to move over the inner meeting edge; but they can be secured to either meeting edge. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of a boot-front with a portion of the meeting edge of the top removed and the bowed-spring pivoted reinforcing-legs shown in portion in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a view of the bowed-spring pivoted reinforcing-legs. Fig. 4 represents a section through X X, Fig. 3, showing the attachment of the inner end of the strap to the plies and the leg and also the lapping strip. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a View of a fastening-strap. Fig. 7 is a view of a depressing-sprin g near the fastening-strap end. Fig. 8 is a detail view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the said depressing-spring. Fig. 9 is a view of a depressingspring wire. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view showing an elastic webbing interposed in one of the fastening-straps.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar or corresponding parts where they occur in the several views.

On reference to the drawings it will be seen that my invention includes a pair of bowedspring pivoted reinforcing-legs A and A.

.These are preferably made of thin sheet spring-steel and each one has its middle portion bowed, as shown in Fig. 3, the amount of which bow depends upon conditions. These are preferably of uniform thickness and width, the saidthickness and width depend- 7 ing upon the size of the boot and the purpose to which it is to be applied. At their lower ends these legs are united by a pivotpin B, the upper portion of the said legs being capable of moving to and from each other. In the legAare accommodating holes '0, by which the said leg is locked between the inner and outer ply of the boot or shoe top, as hereinafter described. In the leg A are secured the inner ends of two or more studs or holders D. Each one of these protrudes above the said leg, and at its outer end is a head D. The said legs A and A are placed, respectively, between the inner ply E and the outer ply E of the meeting edges of the top. The pivoted portion is below the upper, while the top end of each leg is preferably below the top. In order to permit the headed studs D to pass through the outer ply E of the top and protrude beyond the surface of the said outer ply, suitable holes are made therein. The said legs are stitched within the said inner and outer ply; but before doing so there is placed over the hole 0 on the leg A the inner ends of the fastening-strap F.

The straps F are locked to the leg A and t0 the inner and outer ply of the boot by rivets, eyelets, or other means 0. Through the said fastening-straps are made eyelet-holes containin g eyelet-rings G. The number of these rings and their relation to each other will depend upon the boot or shoe and its use.

In order to depress the outer or loose end of each fastening-strap onto the top and prevent it from upcurling and encumbering the trousers-bottoms or the skirt, I attach thereto a depressing-spring H. This, as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, consists of a piece of thin springsteel and is either inserted in a slit made through the leather forming the said strap or stitched or otherwise attached to the inner or outer surface of the same.

In lieu of the sheet-steel depressing-spring described I may use a piece of spring-wire J, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. This can be either stitched to the inner or outer surface or the edges of the said strap or the legs of the said the strap.

depressing-pieee may be inserted in accommodating holes formed along either side of It can be secured within the said strap by stitching or any other means.

The meeting edges of the top instead of being open may have on one side a lapping strip K, extending the whole length of the meeting edge and covering the joint and its fellow meeting edge. This may be an extension of the outer ply or of the inner and outer together. Dustandotherintrudersarethereby more eifectually excluded.

Between the meeting edge and the inner end of the fastening-strap may be a piece of elastic or other material. This will impart to the said strap a yielding action and enable it to accommodate itself more readily to any unnatural position of the foot. In the case of shoes only one strap is necessary in many instances.

To fasten boots or shoes provided with my invention, it is only necessary to press the strap upon the head of the stud and a contact is at once formed. When ones footwear requires unfastening, the ends of the strap or straps have only to be pulled oif the stud-head,

and the boot or shoe is free.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A boot and shoe fastening, comprising pivoted legs hinged together, fastening-straps secured to one of said legs and adapted to engage the other, and a spring means secured to the free end of said straps for turning them inwardly against the shoe, substantially as described.

2. A boot and shoe fastening, comprising a pair of legs arranged in the edges of a shoeveaess opening and pivoted together at their lower ends, rigid studs carried by one of said legs and projecting beyond the surface of the shoe, and fastening-straps secured to the other, the said straps having openings for engaging the said studs and securing the opened portions of the shoe together, substantially as described.

3. A boot and shoe fastening, comprising a pair of legs hinged together, the said legs being secured in the edges of a shoe-opening, fastening-straps riveted to one of said legs and provided with a series of openings, studs carried by the other leg arranged opposite to said fastening-straps, and means carried by the straps for preventing free ends from curling outwardly, substantially as described.

4. The improvement in boot and shoe fastenings consisting of the combination of a top, a lapping strip on one meeting edge of the top covering the joint and the opposite meeting edge of the top, a metallic bowed reinforcingleg in each meeting edge, said legs being pivoted at their bottom end beneath the upper, one leg having holes and headed studs on the other, fastening-straps secured on their inner ends to one of the legs and between the plies of the meeting-edge top, and a piece of elastic material in each strap, and depress ing-springs on the outer end of the said strap and means for receiving and confining the same, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand to this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

REBEOCA SNAPPER. Witnesses:

CECIL W. LE PLASTRIER, GEORGE A. MOREN. 

